PROVISION!

Over the past few months of this blogging experience of mine, I have had occasion to mention my predilection for that high-calorific gooey substance that is extracted from Arachis hypogaea, especially the commercial species manufactured by that venerable institution, J. M. Smuckers—the edible product that goes by the rather trivial name of "Jif"! Not trivial to me, though. It is the means and material of my subsistence in Scotland!!!

To cut a long story short, folks, I’ve been buried under a deluge of Jif! Not only did some compassionate souls—may their tribe increase!—go to extreme lengths to mail four bottles of the precious stuff to Scotland (at $40 a pop, I might add—God bless their kind hearts!), but during this current holiday trip to the Dallas area, everyone—and I mean everyone—gave me enough of this “food of the gods” to last me till the Lord returns! And, yes, I’m gonna take it all to Scotland! The guys in U.K. customs are going to have a fit! I hope I don’t get taxed for importing peanut butter.

The benefaction of my friends this season, their bounteousness and generosity, are prototypical of the blessings of God upon my life in 2005. God has blessed me abundantly, not least through the body of Christ, whose concern and love for me have been overwhelming, as I began a new chapter in my life this fall. I am grateful to God and for my brothers and sisters in Christ—friends and family, church and community—for their having allowed the Spirit of God to be manifest through them. And, I am sure, God has been plenteous and profuse in His blessings to all of you, as well, in like fashion. Pressed down and running over. He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

Unmeasurable grace, illimitable love, unbounded power. He is Yahweh Yireh, indeed—the God who provides (Genesis 22:14)!

God’s Word promises us His continued provision for all our needs—most especially, of course, His giving of His only begotten Son, for our salvation from sin. Not only do we have the assurance of His Word, God’s abundant blessing for our every need in the past also vouches for His assured care and solicitude for our future, for 2006 and beyond. Our God is worthy of our trust.

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials he multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed
Ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Annie J. Flint (1866–1932)

May our God supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19) in the New Year. May He use each one of us to meet the needs of our fellow-believers as well, as we manifest Christlikeness more and more, day by day.

Have a blessed 2006!